AUTOFORUM

Volkswagen Polo gets a new look and technology

Nov 15, 2021 Volkswagen Polo, Steffen Knapp, Volkswagen Passenger Car Brand.

Volkswagen Polo gets a new look and technology

The popular Volkswagen Polo has a new look. The facelifted model is set to continue the success of the Polo brand in the local market. “The Volkswagen Polo is South Africa’s second best-selling passenger car after the Polo Vivo.

In 2021, 16 454 Polos have been sold in the local market which translates to a share of 22.6% in the A0 Hatch segment,” said Steffen Knapp, Head of the Volkswagen Passenger Car Brand. The Polo, which is built in Kariega in the Eastern Cape, is exported to all right-hand-drive markets worldwide. Volkswagen also supplements production for left-hand-drive markets. The Kariega plant is also the sole manufacturer of the Polo GTI. Over 80% of total Polo volume is exported to international markets worldwide. To date, more than 18 million Polos have been sold globally. In South Africa, 78 848 units of the sixth generation Polo have been sold since the vehicle was launched in 2018.

A sporty exterior with a signature lighting design. The bumper and tailgate have been given a new look, as have the headlights and tail light clusters which come standard with LED technology. The Polo has a distinctive day time and night time light signature which includes a new LED light strip along the radiator grille in conjunction with the IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights. The new Polo has taken this design cue from the ID models as well as the Golf - these were the first Volkswagens to have an LED crossbar in the front.

The new Polo is available in eight exterior colours: Ascot Grey (new), Smoky Grey Metallic (new), Kings Red Metallic (new), Vibrant Violet Metallic (new), Pure White, Reflex Silver Metallic, Reef Blue Metallic and Deep Black Pearl Effect.

The interior of the Polo now boasts a Digital Cockpit, a re-designed multi-function steering wheel, new-generation infotainment systems and wireless App-Connect (optional feature). The dashboard of the Polo is characterised by a horizontal design. All modules except the air conditioning are integrated into the dashboard’s upper crossbar with the infotainment system screen located in the centre. The Digital Cockpit and infotainment system create a coherent digital cockpit landscape. In the R-Line and Polo GTI derivatives, the two-zone climatronic air conditioner now has touch panels and sliders which replace the knobs and buttons in the previous generation.

The Polo range is available with a choice of three infotainment systems; Composition Colour with a 6.5-inch display (standard in the 70kW and 85kW Polo and Life), Composition Media with an 8.0-inch display (standard in the 85kW R-Line and Polo GTI) and an 8.0-inch Discover Media system with navigation, wireless App-Connect, Voice Control, inductive mobile charging and a multi-colour Digital Cockpit Pro (optional feature on the Life, R-Line and GTI models).

The Polo is the first vehicle in its class to be offered with the optional IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist feature. Travel Assist brings together the functions of the new predictive ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) and Lane Assist to create a new system which enables semi-automated driving. ACC ensures that the Polo automatically maintains the speed selected by the driver. Using radar sensor technology, it detects if a slower vehicle appears in front of it and then brakes the Polo, therefore always keeping a safe following distance. If there are no longer any cars in front, the Polo accelerates again to the desired speed. The lane keeping system Lane Assist scans the area in front of the Polo and detects lane markings and steers correctively as soon as any unintentional movement out of the lane is detected. When IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist is active, the Polo brakes, accelerates and steers automatically within the system limits. This semi-automated assist system relieves the strain on drivers, especially on long journeys.

Optional driver assistance systems in the new Polo include Front Assist and Pedestrian Monitoring. In its class, the new Polo is a leader when it comes to the innovative spectrum of driver assistance systems on offer.

In South Africa, the new Volkswagen Polo will be available in three turbo-charged petrol engines.

The 1.0 TSI 70kW engine will be available in the Polo and Polo Life specifications. The three-cylinder engine, which is coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission, delivers 70kW of power and maximum torque of 175Nm. It takes 10.8 seconds to complete the zero to 100km/h sprint.

The 1.0 TSI 85kW DSG engine is only available in the Polo Life and Polo R-Line specifications. The three-cylinder engine, which is coupled with a 7-speed DSG transmission, delivers 85kW of power and maximum torque of 200Nm. It takes 11.3 seconds to complete the zero to 100km/h sprint.

Like all its predecessors, the new Polo GTI is a front-wheel drive. The 2.0 TSI turbo-charged engine delivers a power output of 147kW. The maximum torque is 320Nm at 1 500 to 4 500 rpm. It completes the zero to 100km/h sprint in just 6.7 seconds.

Pricing for the new Polo range in South Africa will be confirmed closer to the launch date.

The new Polo will retail from Volkswagen dealers in January 2022.